Title IX

Baruch College follows the tenets of Title IX, a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in programs and activities at educational institutions receiving federal funds. We are committed to providing a safe environment in which all members of our campus community—students, faculty, and staff—can learn and work free from fear of sexual harassment and sexual violence.

The City University of New York and Baruch College prohibit gender-based harassment of any kind, by students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome conduct that may include sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Harassing conduct, also implicated by sexual assault, domestic and intimate partner violence, or stalking on any CUNY campus, creates a “hostile environment” which, when sufficiently severe or pervasive, may limit or interfere with a student’s ability to participate in educational activities, or an employee’s ability to perform their job.

Sexual misconduct includes sexual harassment (including gender-based harassment), domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and voyeurism. For definitions of prohibited conduct and additional information about CUNY’s process and procedures for handling reports of sexual misconduct, refer to the CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct.

Title IX Sexual Misconduct Policy Update

On Friday, January 31 the U.S. Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague Letter stating, “[E]ffective immediately, the United States Department of Education’s (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will enforce Title IX under the provisions of the 2020 Title IX Rule, rather than the recently invalidated 2024 Title IX Rule.” For this reason, CUNY’s 2020 Policy on Sexual Misconduct replaces the fully rescinded 2024 Policy on Sex-Based Misconduct as the policy applicable to all open and future Title IX matters, including all “open Title IX investigations initiated under the 2024 Rule.”

Please note that, as has always been the case, the Policy on Sexual Misconduct prohibits unwelcome verbal or physical behavior based on a person’s sex (e.g., sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, and gender identity, which includes transgender status), and CUNY remains committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which its community members live, learn, and work free from all forms of sex discrimination.

With this systemwide return to the Policy on Sexual Misconduct, fewer employees will have a duty to inform their Title IX Coordinator when they learn of conduct that may constitute sexual misconduct (these employees are referred to as “responsible employees” under the Policy on Sexual Misconduct). To view the categories of employees CUNY designates as Responsible Employees, please refer to Section VI (B) of the 2020 policy.

Students may still consult with Confidential Employees, who will only share a report of sexual misconduct if instructed to do so by the person who confided in them. Students who wish to speak to someone who will keep their communications confidential should speak to one of the following:

Counselor or other staff member at the Baruch College Counseling Center;
Nurse, nurse practitioner or other college health office staff member at the Baruch College Student Health Care Center; or
The Baruch College Ombuds.

Employees who are neither Responsible Employees nor Confidential Employees are strongly encouraged to report allegations of sexual misconduct to the College’s Title IX Coordinator.

Additionally, when an employee is informed that a student is pregnant, the employee is no longer required to provide the contact information of their Title IX Coordinator to that student, and the employee is no longer required to inform the pregnant student that their Title IX Coordinator can provide them with supportive measures. Nevertheless, CUNY encourages employees to assist students seeking supportive measures in these instances. Students who need supportive services, academic adjustments, or accommodations pertaining to a pregnancy-related condition(s) should contact the Office of Student Disability Services.

Any person wishing to submit a report of sexual misconduct should contact the Title IX Coordinator at Baruch College.

Bianca A. Vitale, Esq.
bianca.vitale@baruch.cuny.edu
(646) 312-4546.

At Baruch, we remain committed to ensuring a safe and supportive campus environment. Please consider the following supportive resources that are available to you:

Public Safety: Visit: 152 E. 26th Street, H-160; Call: (646) 312-3333 or Email: public.safety@baruch.cuny.edu
Baruch College Counseling Center: Visit: 137 E 25th Street, 9th Floor; Call (646) 312-2155 or Email: counseling@baruch.cuny.edu
Baruch College Student Health Care Center: Call 646-312-2040 or Email: StudentHealthCareCenter@baruch.cuny.edu.
Student Affairs: Annie Virkus-Estrada, PHD, AVP of Student Affairs, Call: 646-312-4570 or Email: annie.virkus-estrada@baruch.cuny.edu
CUNY Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Call 800-833-8707 or visit myccaonline.com and use the company code: CUNY. If you have any questions, please contact Sergine Louis, Benefits Manager, Call: (646) 660-6608 or Email: sergine.louis@baruch.cuny.edu.
Office of Human Resources: Call: (646) 660-6590 or Email: human.resources@baruch.cuny.edu